JOSEPH HISLOP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19163, 21 November 1927, Page 7

JOSEPH HISLOP.

ARRIVES TO-MORROW. . At the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening Joseph Hislop,.the world-famous tenor, will make his first bow to a Christchurch apdience. The box plans for the two concerts are rapidly filling, and the great interest displayed by mußic-lovers, particularly by choirs and the leading Musical societies, augurs well for a record season, as over 1700 seats have already been taken up for the season. Mr Hislop comes to Christchurch with a reputation second to none. There' has been no concert artist who has visited the Dominion in recent years who has met with such ovations elsewhere as this famous; singer. More than 75,000 people heard Hislop in Australia, and already over 24,000 people have been thrilled and delighted in Auckland and Wellington by his amazing artistry and magnetic personality.. Every'critic in New Zealand has acclaimed him as the greatest tenor ever heard in the Antipodes. The people have extended to him the glad hand of welcome; and they bid fair to make his stay in the Dominion one of the happiest events in the life of a great singer and a splendid man. During, the past week every J. and N. Tait concert record has been broken by the great artist,-huge crowds being unable to gain admission to the Wellington Town Hall concerts, notwithstanding that four concerts were. given. The high guarantee being arranged made the visit of Joseph Hislop an enormous risk for the firm of J. and N. Tait, but tho tour has proved an unqualified success ever since the opening night in Auckland a couple of weeks ago, and. the Christchurch people will crowd • the Theatre Royal to overflowing, without the slightest doubt, in order to hear this great artist, who has reached the highest pinnacle in the art world. For the opening concert in Christchurch the star item will be the rendering of Messenet's "Manon," accompanied by organ, piano, and chimes. Then follows the sparkling collection ,of the latest ballads, also "Adelaide," the fine Beethoven number, which will be of particular interest to musiclovers. Mr Arthur Lilley, A.R.C.0., has been specially engaged to preside at the organ for the "Manon" number. This will be sung last on the programme. Mr Alberto Sciarretti, the associate artist with Mr Hislop, will play several groups of interesting pianoforte solos, including several items by Italian composers new to the Christchurch. concert platfprm. Mr Sciarretti. has a great reputation in London and America, and is a 'popular favourite everywhere. In response to a great number of requests, Messrs J. and N..Tait announce that arrangements have been made whereby the five-shill-ing Beats may be reserved for both concerts for the convenience of patrons. This reserve will open at The Bristol this morning, in addition to extra rows in other reserved sections. The threo-shilling unreserved tickets will be sold this morning at The Brißtol. A special souvenir programme has been prepared for the season, containing pictures of the famous tenor, and particularly interesting are the ones showing Hislop singing with Galli Curci in "Romeo and Juliet' at the Auditorium Opera House, Chicago: also the one showing the artist making-np in his dressing-room at the Opera Comiqne, Paris. It is interesting to note that Joseph Hislop was the first British artist to sing at the great Paris Opera Houbo, where he secured a brilliant success in the role of Rudolfo in "La Boheme." The occasion was billed as a gala performance, for which the prices were nearly donbled. The theatre was packed, and an unusually large number of British and Americans were present to hear the famous tenor. Mr Hislop, who sang in Italian —the rest of the cast singing in French—was in splendid voice, and sang with refreshing ease. The clarity and richness of his ton* in the "Che Gelida Manina" thrilled his audience, and brought forth a burst of applause which continued for some minutes. The audience refused, amid shouts of protest from disappointed persons in different parts of the theatre, to leave until the lights had been lowered. This great number from "Boheme" will be sung by Mr Hislop as an encore on Tuesday night.